The boxer, who is running for a seat in the Philippines senate, faced swift backlash after he said in an interview that animals "know how to distinguish male from female. If we approve [of] male on male, female on female, then man is worse than animals," he said, according to TMZ.

"It's common sense. Will you see any animals where male is to male and female is to female," Pacquiao asked in a television interview. "The animals are better."

As CBS reported, former NBA player Jason Collins, who was the first player to come out as gay while still playing in the league, quickly condemned Pacquiao's comments.

.@mannypacquiao I lost all respect for you. Bigoted people like you (& yes you are one) should never hold an office in politics. #ByeFelicia